Holder for cartridge type fuses and the like



April 17, 1934. R. A. OHLSON HOLDER FOR CARTRIDGE TYPE FUSES AND THELIKE Filed June 17, 1933 INVENTOR REYNOLD yum,

- %NEY Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER FOBCARTRIDGE TYPE FUSES AND THE LIKE necticut Application June 17, 1933,Serial No. 676,260

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-134) My invention relates to means for detachablysupporting electrical devices such as fuses and relays of the typehaving cylindrical ends.

It has been customary to provide what are frequently termed spring clipsor Jaws which are mounted upon a suitable support and adapted toresiliently grip the contact ends of the fuse.

These clips being resilient make it possible to insert the fuse bysimply pressing the contact ends of the fuse into position in the clipsand the fuse may be removed by simply pulling it out. While thisconstruction is satisfactory for many purposes the electrical connectioneffected by such a construction is frequently defective. The clipsbecome coated with dust and oxides and frequently become weakened eitherthrough electrical heat or distortion in manipulating the fuses. Suchconstructions also permit the fuses to be accidentally removed.

One object of my invention is to provide a construction of this generalcharacter having many of the advantages of the usual spring clips but inwhich the electrical connection is much more positive and efiective.

Another object is to provide a construction of this character from whichthe fuse can not be accidentally removed.

Another object is to provide a clamping means supplementary to the usualspring clips which can readily be made effective or easily released whenso desired without the use of tools other than a screw driver.

Another object is to provide clamping attachment which can be applied tostandard fuse clips without special adaptation.

The broad idea of my invention may be applied in a number of waysalthough in each case I provide spring clips for receiving the contactends of the fuse and an auxiliary clamp adapted to be made effective orreleased by the use of an ordinary screw driver. This auxiliary orclamping device may be. made as an integral part of the fuse clipstructure or formed separately and suitably applied, as herein setforth.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a construction having two holders for theopposite contact ends of a fuse or relay.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view showing one of the holding and clamping devicesviewed from the inside.

Fig. 4 is a similar outside end view with a part shown in section.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional type ofspring clip with the coasting clamping means.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a fuse clamped inposition.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing another modified form ofconstruction.

The cartridge type device 10 may represent a fuse or relay of anysuitable character having conductive end caps as usual. Such protectivedevices are usually mounted on an insulated base 11. Each end of thefuse is adapted to be supported in a clip consisting of spring jaws 12and 13 which are integral with a cross piece 14 and adapted to besecured to a plate 15 and to the base 11 by a bolt or screw 16. Theseplates 15 are usually also additionally secured by a screw or bolt 17which also serves to secure the circuit terminal 18. All of theforegoing being of conventional type, they need not be described indetail.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 to 6 I provide a reinforcing yokeconsisting of a cross bar 19 with flanges 20 and 21, which extendalongside of the jaws 12 and 13, respectively. A wedging member 22 issupported by a screw 23 which passes freely through a flange 24 so thatby tightening the screw 23 the member 22 may be drawn up between the jaw13 and the flange 21 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in Fig. 6.

The upper part of the cross bar 19 may be reinforced by a flange 25 andthe cross bar may be supported by a bracket whose foot 26 is clamped bythe screw 16. The upright portion 27 of the bracket supports two guidemembers such as 28, which may be in the form of rivets whose shanks passthrough slots 29 in the upright 27. Sufficient freedom is left to permitthe cross bar 19 to slide transversely of the upright that it canautomatically adjust itself in position as the clamping member 22 istightened by the action of the screw 23.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 it is obvious thatthe fuse can be readily placed in position between the spring jaws ofthe clip in the usual manner and removed in the usual manner whendesired. When the fuse is in position, as shown in Fig. 6, the wedgingmember 22 can be drawn up by the screw 23 so as to draw the parts intoclose contact with considerable pressure, thus making it impossible towithdraw the fuse from the jaws while the wedging member is in theposition shown in Fig. 6.

In the form shown in Fig. 7 the bracket has the foot 30 and the upright31 which constitutes the cross bar with which the flanges 32 and 33 areintegral. The clamping member 22 and the screw 23 are operated in thesame manner as in the form first described.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the supporting bracket is omitted and theclip is specially formed having spring jaws and 36 connected by thebottom plate 37. The upper ends of the spring jaws are connected by across bar 38 whose ends 39 and 40 embrace the outer ends of the springjaws and may be welded or riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto.The wedging member 22 and screw 23 are constructed and operated in amanner similar to the ones previously described.

I claim:

1. A fuse holder including spring clips and means for clamping them ontothe contact ends of a fuse, said means including a cross bar havingprojecting flanges for loosely embracing the contact ends of the clips,a wedging member, and screw means for forcing said wedging memberbetween one of the clip members and one of the flanges on the cross bar.

2. A fuse holder including a contact clip having a pair of uprights, atleast one of which uprights is adapted to receive the contact end of afuse, a yoke having a cross bar and projecting side arms, said armsbeing secured to said uprights, and a wedging member interposed betweenthe uprights and provided with screw means for drawing it into forciblecontact with the contact end of a fuse.

3. A holder for a cartridge type fuse including a spring contact cliphaving arcuate jaws, a cross bar having two oppositely disposed. armsfor loosely embracing the free ends of said clip, a wedging member andscrew means for forcing said wedging member between one of the arcuatejaws of said clip and one of the said arms to clamp the contact end of afuse between the jaws of the contact clip and to clamp the jaws of theclip between the two oppositely disposed arms.

4. A holder for a cartridge type fuse including a spring contact cliphaving arcuate jaws, a laterally movable cross bar associated with saidclip and having a projecting arm at each of its opposite ends forloosely embracing the free ends of said clip, a wedging member and screwmeans for forcing said wedging member between one of the arcuate jaws ofsaid clip and one of the said arms. REYNOLD A. OHLSON.

